Anti-clogging means for automatic thread-knotting devices

ABSTRACT

The anticlogging means for automatic thread-knotting devices comprises a member, made of pre-stamped plastic material or rubber, closely adhering to the upper wall of the knotting device. Longitudinal and inclined wings, juxtaposed with the slots existing in the knotting device&#39;&#39;s upper wall, provide seals against the penetration of dust and lint inside the body of the knotting device. These wings are so positioned as to form therebetween collection chambers for the dust which has filtered through the first seal.

United States Patent Messa Mar. 26, 1974 ANTl-CLOGGING MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC THREAD-KNO'I'I'ING DEVICES [76] Inventor: Pietro Messa, via Gasparo da Salo l 2 6, Salo, Brescia, Italy [22] Filed: Sept. 15, 1972 [2]] Appl. No.2 289,616

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Oct. 6, 1971 ltaly 5213/71 [52] US. Cl. 289/3 [51] Int. Cl. D03j 3/00 [58] Field of Search 289/2, 3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,400,960 9/1968 Daniele 289/3 Primary Examiner-Louis K. Rimrodt 5 7] ABSTRACT The anticlogging means for automatic thread-knotting devices comprises a member, made of pre-stamped plastic material or rubber, closely adhering to the upper wall of the knotting device. Longitudinal and inclined wings, juxtaposed with the slots existing in the knotting devices upper wall, provide seals against the penetration of dust and lint inside the body of the knotting device. These wings are so positioned as to form therebetween collection chambers for the dust which has filtered through the first seal.

6 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures ANTI-CLOGGING MEANS FOR AUTOMATIC THREAD-KNOTTING DEVICES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to anti-clogging means suitable for the controlling members of automatic thread-knotting devices.

THE PRIOR ART In various known types of automatic knotting devices, such as those for producing the so-called Fisherman Knot or the Weavers Knot" or the like, in cooperation with threading machines, there is usually provided in the upper surface of the body of these knotting devices at least one slot through which protrude the mobile levers actuating on the threads during the knotting phase of operation.

The presence of such a slot or slots in the upper surface of the body of the knotting device is a main cause of serious disadvantages due to the ease of penetration of dust and lint into said body of the device with the resultant clogging of the inner controlling and actuating mechanisms and, particularly, of the delicate unit composed of the rotating cammed drum which controls the various phases of the knotting operation.

It is therefore necessary in these conventional arrangements to carry out frequent and thorough cleanings of the knotting device which operations obviously require the stoppage of the machine and the disassembly of the elements involved in the cleaning operation, with resultant losses in time and labor.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a main object of the present invention to eliminate the above-mentioned disadvantages and to prevent the penetration of dust and lint inside the body of the knotting device by providing anti-clogging means therefor.

Briefly stated, the anti-clogging means of the invention comprises a member, preferably pre-stamped from suitable synthetic plastic material or'made of rubber or similar material, which member is shaped so as to statically conform to the upper surface of the body of the knotting device and is provided, at predetermined locations depending on the type of knot to be produced, with elastic and flexible wings in juxtaposition with the slots in the upper surface of the body of the knotting device.

These wings will prevent accordingly the penetration of dust inside the body and, concurrently will adhere continuously to the mobile levers mentioned hereabove without hindering, however, their required operation.

THE DRAWINGS These and other objects of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description thereof and from the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a lateral sectional view thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the anti-clogging means suitable for a Weavers Knot producing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to the accompanying drawings, the

anti-clogging means comprises a member I made preferably of prestamped synthetic plastic material or of rubber or of equivalent material. 0n member 1 there are provided pegs 2 and shoulders 3 for the rapid assembling and static coordination of the member 1 with the upper wall 4 of the body 5 of the knotting device.

On the frontal surface 6 of member 1, facing the upper slot 7 of the upper wall 4, in which slot move the operative levers 8 of the threads, there are provided two pre-stamped longitudinal wings 9 and 10 which are elastic and flexible and are parallel to each other and are superimposed to one another so as to define a chan' me] or chamber 11 therebetween. These wings 9, 10 are located in juxtaposition with the upper slot 7 and extend therein so as to adhere to the inner surface of the frontal wall 4 of the body of the knotting device and of the levers 8, both when idle and when operative.

On the member 1 and in correspondence with another slot 12 provided in the upper wall 4 in which at least another mobile lever 13 is operative, there is provided an elastic and flexible foil 14, made from prestamped material, which foil serves the purpose of ob structing the slot 12 and of adhering with its free terminal end both to the inner surface of the back wall of the body 5 and to the said mobile lever 13, without hindering, however, the operative displacements of this lever. On the foil 14 there is provided at least one elastic and flexible wing 15 facing upwardly and preferably inclined upwardly, which wing 15 is also coordinated to the lever 13 and forms a seal and defines, together with the foil 14 and with the walls of the body 5, a channel or chamber 16 to contain the dust and lint generated by the threads.

The inclined wing 15 is connected to the member I only at its extremities. The base remains free and detached from the member 1 so as to define an aperture 18 through which passes and operates the back lever 13 of the knotting device.

The anti-clogging means described hereabove is coordinated to the body of the knotting device as illustrated in FIG. 3. Specifically, the flexible wings 9, l0 obstruct the slot 7 of body 5, while the foil 14, together with the inclined flexible wing 15, obstructs the second slot 13 of the body 5 so as to prevent the passage of dust and lint to the inside of the body 5, without preventing the free operational displacements of the levers of the device. Particularly, the frontal wing 9 consti' .tutes a first barrier or seal against the penetration of dust through the frontal slot 7; the channel 11 serves for the containment of the dust which has succeeded to filter through the first barrier; the lower flexible wing 10 constitutes a second barrier or seal which substantially completely prevents the passage of dust inside the body 5. Similarly, the inclined upper wing 15 and the foil 14 of member 1 form respectively a first and a second barrier or seal against the penetration of dust through the back slot 12 of body .5, while the channel 16 defined by the said two barriers serves to contain the dust which might have passed through wing 15.

Described hereabove is an anti-clogging means specifically suited for knotting devices for Weaver's Knots. However, without leaving the scope of the present invention, the same sealing means may be adapted to other types of knots, such as the Fisherman Knot". Thus, for example, the anticlogging means may have a single, frontal wing and a single back wing. Al-

ternatively, in lieu of these wings, one may employ bundles of bristles fixed directly to the anti-clogging means or fixed by means of plates or fasteners.

What is claimed is:

l. Anti-clogging means for the knotting device of automatic threading machines wherein a member is statically connected to the upper wall of the body of said knotting device and wherein at least one frontal and at least one back slot are provided in said upper wall for the passage of the operative levers of said device, said anti-clogging means comprising: a pair of longitudinal flexible wings paralel to each other and positioned on one surface thereof; a first channel defined between said longitudinal parallel wings; a flexible foil positioned on another surface thereof; an inclined and upwardly facing wing on said foil; a second channel defined by said inclined wing and said foil; said longitudinal wings being positioned in such a manner as to obstruct said frontal and back slots.

2. The anti-clogging means according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal wings have a free terminal which adheres continuously to the inner surface of the frontal wall of said body and to the operative levers, said wings being capable of temporary deformation during the operational displacements of said levers.

3. The anti-clogging means according to claim 1, wherein said foil has a terminal end which adheres continuously to the inner surface of the back wall of said body and to the operative levers, said foil being deformable to allow the displacement of said levers; and wherein said inclined wing has its base free from said member and spaced therefrom so as to define an aper ture therein for the passages of operative levers therethrough.

4. The anti-clogging means according to claim 1, comprising at least one longitudinal flexible wing and at least one inclined wing, said inclined wing having a free lower base; said wings being juxtaposed with said slots in the upper wall of the body and with said operative levers.

5. The anti-clogging means according to claim 1, comprising further means to fixedly connect said member to said upper wall of said body.

6. The anti-clogging means according to claim 5, further comprising a seal juxtaposed to slots provided in the upper wall of said body; said seal being formed of elastic plastic material. 

1. Anti-clogging means for the knotting device of automatic threading machines wherein a member is statically connected to the upper wall of the body of said knotting device and wherein at least one frontal and at least one back slot are provided in said upper wall for the passage of the operative levers of said device, said anti-clogging means comprising: a pair of longitudinal flexible wings paralel to each other and positioned on one surface thereof; a first channel defined between said longitudinal parallel wings; a flexible foil positioned on another surface thereof; an inclined and upwardly facing wing on said foil; a second channel defined by said inclined wing and said foil; said longitudinal wings being positioned in such a manner as to obstruct said frontal and back slots.
 2. The anti-clogging means according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal wings have a free terminal which adheres continuously to the inner surface of the frontal wall of said body and to the operative levers, said wings being capable of temporary deformation during the operational displacements of said levers.
 3. The anti-clogging means according to claim 1, wherein said foil has a terminal end which adheres continuously to the inner surface of the back wall of said body and to the operative levers, said foil being deformable to allow the displacement of said levers; and wherein said inclined wing has its base free from said member and spaced therefrom so as to define an aperture therein for the passages of operative levers therethrough.
 4. The anti-clogging means according to claim 1, comprising at least one longitudinal flexible wing and at least one inclined wing, said inclined wing having a free lower base; said wings being juxtaposed with said slots in the upper wall of the body and with said operative levers.
 5. The anti-clogging means according to claim 1, comprising further means to fixedly connect said member to said upper wall of said body.
 6. The anti-clogging means according to claim 5, further comprising a seal juxtaposed to slots provided in the upper wall of said body; said seal being formed of elastic plastic material. 